I've noticed it, too. But I noticed it at NHK as well. I wonder if it's more to do with the skaters themselves and not the ice? Maybe they're not clean on their edges even more so now than in the past? I don't know?

More likely an issue of mic-ing and/or sound-mixing.

ETA: Given that you hear it A LOT toward the edges of the rink, and not towards the center, I'm sticking to this view.

Amelie Lacoste - for going for such an old warhorse peace of music, that was a pretty good and reasonably engaging effort. She is skating with a bit of fire too, like Samson. It looks like recent successes of ROchette and Phaneuf are inspiring the second tier Canadian Ladies. This is the most I've enjoyed Lacoste. The music choice suits her

Shame about the one fall, but that was bliss. David jinxed her (right before the fall, he said that it would be hard to beat). Amazing program - easily the best ladies LP thus far (not ust of the night, of the season). God she's so breathtakingly beautiful. I could have watched that forever.